How reliable are chevy 454/7.4 V8 motors?

Question

I'm buying a 3/4 ton 4x4 suburban and I can't decide between the 454 or the 350 engine.

Answer 1

well the chevrolet motors are all reliable. you just have to make sure you do the maintence on them. yes, the 350 is easier to work on. but if your going to tow. i would go with a 454.

Answer 2

My Vortec 454 has been very reliable. I love it for pulling, especially in the hills. I can maintain speed allot better with the big block than I could over my previous truck with the 350. I have an 18' cargo trailer the 350 always seemed to struggle in hills or against the wind. The 454 does just fine. Only drawback has been gas mileage only 14 empty compare to 18+ with the 350. But with a heavy load they both got around the same (12mpg)

Answer 3

I wish you would have stated weather the 454 was a true truck 454 or a car 454 and the year and compression ratio. The one ton truck 454's have the peanut heads which make high torque but not a lot more horsepower than the standard truck 350. If your pulling heavy loads go with the 454. Light commuting calls for the 350 for fuel economy purposes

Answer 4

The best. The design has been around since 1965. The vortec is the best one, 96 and newer. 290hp 410 tq. 4 bolt block. Compared to a early cummins or powerstroke at 460 tq and a lot more weight. Will need a new distributor, injectors, intake manifold gasket, real cold air intake and ecm retune. About $400 to really get good power. If you factor in weight and fuel cost they put out the same power as most diesels and are much much cheaper to fix. the 8.1 has more power but is not as good a design. The 95 and back are wimpy with small port heads and TBI. Mine is a 98. Also has a great transmission 4l80. Super strong.. Can pull 7000lbs over 100mph! Not smart and scary, but the road was barren and empty. 8.7 mpg on the highway with 7000lbs trailer turning 3000rpm 75 to 80 mph. Around town mileage is 8 to 9 empty and maybe 12 on the highway. Not a good daily driver if you aren t pulling weight. Will get a solid 1mpg better across the board and more power with non etoh gas. Easy engine to rebuild. Yes Diesels get better MPG but the lift pumps turbos and injectors cost a fortune. When one fails it costs the same as a total rebuild on a 454.

Answer 5

454 Motors

Answer 6

454- more power. 350- less power, but over all the easiest and cheapest to fix. i prefer the 350 for reliabilty. the 454 for pulling.

Answer 7

350 for everyday grind, but.... 454 for pulling and hauling, gears will help the 350 pull a trailer but 454 is RAW POWER. there is NO REPLACEMENT for cubic inch displacement. so now you decide, what you want it for

Answer 8

yea 454 is more of a pullin engine in trucks....ideal for trailers.....the 350 is good for all around performance. But its whatever you like the best.

Answer 9

They are reliable right up to the red line! A big block won't forgive an overrev . They have more torque for pulling but don't over rev them

Answer 10

in case you dont see any cracks thats a sturdy commence. additionally verify there are not any ridges interior the piston partitions or pistons in any respect. you will could desire to do away with the ridge on the precise of piston bore, no longer something in those aspects could desire to capture your finger nail in case you rub it alongside the steel. Magnafluxing the block and heads are a sturdy thought for a competent rebuilt runner. in case you opt to smoke his 350, deploy extreme compression pistons and a recognition variety cam with mid point RPM selection. make certain which you do experience the intake and carb to the overall performance you like, like a 600cfm is plenty and port experience each and every of the passages.